Vertical file



c. B. ULRICH VERTICAL FILE Filed sept. 25, 1926 3 sheets-Sheet 1 19 zo 18 l? INVENTOR. 15 r- CHARLES B. ULRICH www fide A TTORNEY Jan. 8, v1929. l 1,698,518

c. B. ULRICH VERTICAL FILE Filed sept. 25, 1926 s sheets-sheet 2 INVNTOR. CHARLES B. ULRICH ATTORNEY Jan.' 8, 1929. 4 l 1,698,518 l c. B. ULRICH I VERTICAL FAILE I Filed septl.2s.,1926 5' 'sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR. CHARLES alu/ RICH f MNM/116. @uw

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1929. .f

, @WED Sra CHARLES B. ULRICH, or JAnEsTown, new YORK.

VERTICAL FILE.

Application filed September 23, 1926'. Serial No. 137,242.

My invention relates toan improved construction of vertical file adapted particularly for the filing of drawings and tracings m vertical arrangement, so that 'each drawingy and tracing will be held 1n flat condition m vertical position, regardless of the number of drawinvs and tracings contained in the lile. This I accomplish by providing filing pockets suspended on spaced rods with compression means between the pockets. The particular features of the present invention are the construction of filing mechanism of the kind described so that the lower ends of the filing pockets are maintained in proper position at all times, to prevent curling and bunching ot the drawings or tracings, which I find has-occurred to a greater or less extent heretofore, even where compression means are provided between the pockets. To accomplish this improved result, I 'provide means 'for maintainling the pockets in spaced relation, so that each pocket has a definite amount of spa-ce for the accommodation of liled drawings, papers and trac-ings. riety of ways, as described below.

The present inventionfjust described isan improvement on 'the invention disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,126,923 which issued to me on the second day ot February, 1915. Y

`A further object of my invention consists in ,constructing the cabinet used to contain the 'suspended pockets, so that the entire pocket arrangement may be conveniently assembled outsidev of the cabinet and then placed in the cabinet in position to support the bars, which in turn support the pockets, convenient means being provided to hold the supporting bars in spaced relation and lock them in the cabinet against displacement.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying' drawings,

showing a preferredembodiment thereof, in

which Y l Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a filing cabinet, with my improved filing device in placetherein,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale, of the parts shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 taken along the line 3 3,

Fig. 4' is a detail view to an enlarged scale of the means employedfor. securing the compression springs yto the pocket members,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation to a reduced scale This result I sec-ure in a rvashowing one of the pocket-sapporting bars `and the pocket members supported thereby,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the spacing plate used with the pocket construct-ion shown in Fig. -5, Y

Fig.

7 shows in a View similar to Fig. 5, a

modiiied arrangement of spacing means comprising a barindividual to each row of pocket members instead of a slngle spacing plate,

asshown in Figs. 5 and 6, i

Fig. 8 shows in a View similar to Fig. 6, the

spacing bar used in Fig. 7, f

Fig. 9 shows in a view similar to Figs. '5 and 7, the lower end of one of the pocketmembers and a modified means for connectingit with the spacing bar' employed, n

Fig.l 10 is an edge elevationof the pocket construction shown in Fig. 9, showing the manner of securing the pocket memberto the spacing bar,

Fig 11 shows in a view similar to Figs. 6`

and 8, the type of spacing bar employed'in the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10, I

Fig. 12 shows in a view similar to Fig.' 10, a modified construction for spacing the pocket members from each other without the use of a spacing bar or plate,

Fig. 13 shows in a View similar to Fig. 12, a further modified construction of means for spacing the pocket members from each other without the use of a'spacing bar or plate,

Fig. 14 shows in a view similar to Fig..9, the construction of one of the pocket members employed with the construction shown in Fig. 13',l

Fig. 15 is a bottom view of one ot the pocket.

members used in ythe-construction shown in Fig.'13, y

Fig. 16 shows in afview similar to Figs. 10 and 12, a modified spacing means between the pocket members, consisting of a rod and spacing` sleeves, K f v Fig. 17 shows ina view similar to Fig. 16, a further modified form of spacing means consisting of a. rod-and pins engaging kthe lower ends of the pocket members, and

Fig. 18 is a fragmental view `similar'to Fig. 1 showing a part of the casing and a spacing member carried by the bottom wall thereof for engaging'the lower ends of the relation. I

pocket membersto maintainthem in spaced Similarvnumerals refer to similar parts Y throughout the several views.

ing or Vcabinet for containing my improved filing device,'this casing consisting of spaced sheet-metal -walls filled with fire-resisting material, for example asbestos, said casing having a hinged' cover 11 similarly constructed and provided with a groove 12 for engaging an upwardly extending flange 13 formed around the upper edge of the cabinet or casing, so that the casing may be tight-ly closed against water and fire when the cover is closed. Y

. The casing AlO-supports in horizontal position near its upper end, a plui'ality of supporting bars 14 from which pocket member 15 hang. Compression springs 16 are placed between the members 15 supported by each bar 14 to .tend to separate these members, 4these springs being secured to the members in a manner to Abe described.l Each member 15 supported by one of the bars 14, is connected at its lower edge with an adjacent pocket member 15 supported by the next bar 14, by means of a fabric pocket 17 to support the` filed papers, folders, drawings, etc., in vertical position and the parts are so proportioned that whatever may be the amount of filed material in any pocket, it `will beV free from and not engage the parts of thestructure beneath it.

One of the pocket members 15 supported by each of the bars 14 is, with the construction shown in Fig. 1, provided with 'a down- -war'dly extending plate 18, which is secured thereto and bent to clear the corresponding' pocket 17, the lower end of the extending` plate extending through a spacing plate 19 below which the plate 18 is apertured to receive a retaining rod 20, all of these parts being preferably disposed so as to clear the inner bottom surface of the casing 10.

As shownin Figs. 2 and 3, the sides of the casing 10 are provided near their upper edges with supporting channel bars 21, having upwardly extending flanges to be engaged by end notchesforme'd in the bars 14. Similar channel bars 22 with downwardly extending fianges are provided below theV channel bars 21 to support the walls of the `casing 10. Each inner side wall 23 of the casing `stops just below the lower edges of the bars 14 and isoifset at its upper edge, as indicated at 24,

rto form a space for receiving the retaining plate 25, which 'is provided with slots 26 engaging the bars 14 to hold them in vertical position and prevent Vtheir being lifted to clear the channel bars21. After being insertedin the manner described, with its lower v.edge between the offset portion 24 and the channel bars 21 and 22, the plate 25 is held in place by screws 27, extending' into the formed upper portion ofthe outer sheets of the side walls of the casing.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the supi porting bars 14 is notched at its upper edge as shown at'28, to receive the bent upper ends of the corresponding pocket Vmembers 15, which are bent over each other in each of said notches, as indicated in Fig. 3 and are held in place in said notches by a retaining channel bar 29 which is so formed as to tightly engage the bent upper ends of the pocket members 15 when it is forced in place over them. The retaining channel bars 29 are of a length tovj ust clear the inner surfaces of the plates 25, and these plates have projecting lugs 30 formed from them, extending slightly into the interiorof 'the casing so that when each of the retaining bars 29 is forced into place, it is forced at each end Vpast one of the lugs 30 and interloclrs under said lug in the manner indicated in F ig.`2, the lugs thus preventing the retaining bars from being lifted vertically from the corresponding supporting bars 14. Y

As shown in Fig. 4, each of the compression springs is preferably secured to the ycorresponding pocket Vmembers 15, by forming from the Vpocket member', bent tongues 31 between which and the body portion of the pocket member 15, the end turn of the spring 16 is threaded. In this way, the springs are positively maintained in proper positionv at all times.

vIn Figs. 5 and 6, one of the means eniployed at the lower ends of the pockets to properly space them, is illustrated. As shown in Fig. 5, the plates 18 are secured to the corresponding pocket members 15, for example,vby-riveting and are tapered toward their lower ends to extend through suitable apertures in a spacing-plate 19, retaining rods 20 exten'ding .through the lower ends of the plates 18, below the spacing plate 19. ln Fig.,6, the relation of the apertures 19L in the plate 19, is shown to hold the pocket members in proper relativeposition at all times.

lill) If desired, the common retaining plate 1.9,

.modified construction the retaining bar is indicated at 32 to engage the extension plates 18 on one row of pocket members 15 and held in place as before,` by a retaining rod 20, the construction being the same in'other respects as that already described. In Fig. Sthe apertures 32a are illustrated in the bar 32 to receive the lower ends of the extension plates 18, as described. This construction has the advantage over the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, of permitting the several rows of pocket members to operate independently of each other,`which is desirable in some cases, for example where the contents of the pockets are thicker at some portions than others.L

As shown in Figs. 9, 10 and11, one member 15a of each pair of pocket members, supported by adjacent bars 14, is of modified construction, consisting in offsetting it slightly at the upper edge of the corresponding pocket 17at to receive the upper edge of the pocket, from which the pocket member 15a is itself continued to and through the spacing bar 33. The portion of the member 15a 'extending through tliespacing bar, is preferably `in the form of tongues 3e, which are reversely bent as indicated, to retain the poclet members 15a in engagement with the retaining bar. In F ig. 11 the apertures through the bar 33, to receive the tongues 34, are illustrated.

In Fig. 12, I illustrate in a view similar to ig. 10, a modii'ied spacing construction for the lower ends of the pockets, and in this construction the alternate pocket members 15b are formed similarly to the pocket members 15a, the only difference being that they are longer at their lower ends and are bent at so that each extends into engagement with the nent one of the pocket members 15b, as illustrated. l'Ehe extreme end of each of the bent ends, of the pocket members 15b is preferably constructed with tongues in the manfi ner described for the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10, to engage suitable apertures in the next adjacent pocketv member 15b with which it connects, so that the pocket members 15b are locked together with substantially the saine effect as though the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 11 were employed.

The construction shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, is similar to that shown in F ig. 12, the only difference being that the pocket members 15c are provided at their extreme ends with elongated tongues 36 extending through apertures 37 in the adjacent pocket members 15c so that while the elfect of the bent lower ends of the pocket members 15c is to space these pocket members from each other, due to the shoulder portions of the lower ends of the pocket members between the tongues 36, there is some opportunity .for changing of the spacing as conditions may require, there being no positive connection between the several pocket members 15 at their lower ends, and the operation of assembling the pocket members for insertion into the casing is somewhat simplified. In vFig. 13 the alternate pocket inembers 15 are omitted forsake of clearness.

In Fig. 16 I illustrate afmodied construction of spacing means for the lower ends of pocket members 15d, similar to the pocket members 15fL excepting that no tongues are formed on the lower ends of .theseV pocketmeinbers and that they are provided instead with holes or apertures for receiving'a rod l38, which rod in turn supports spacing tubes 39 between the low-er ends of the pocket members 15d. 15d is held in place on the rod 38 by a pin 110. In this view the alternate pocket. members 15 are omitted for the salte of clearness.

In Fig. 17 I illustrate a construction similar and instead the rod 33n itself constitutes the The end one of the pocket members' spacing means by inserting pins l1 through it adjacent the lower ends of the pocket members 15d. mi

In Fig. 13 I illustrate a form of spacing means for the lower ends oft-he alternate' pocket members, which may be carried by the rugations, it being understood that the con- 1 struction ofl these pocket members is pref-erably as shown in Figs. 9 andlO, for the pocket members 15a excepting that the lower ends of the members are extended and are not provided with tongues. The corrugated member 42 may either rest loosely on the bottom of the cabinet or may be securedv thereto, as desired and may be employed with the integral form of pocket members shown in Fig. 9 or with the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the' alternate pocket members have extending spacing plates 18 secured to them.

As a result of the construction described, it will appear that I provide means by which the pocket members may be held in one way or another, in spaced relation at their lower ends, to at the same time restrict the tiling space between alternate pocket members attheir lower ends and yet afford the maximum tiling capacity for which each pocket is intended. It will also be observed that my improved construction greatly facilitates the assembly of the filing pockets in complete relation before mount-v ing the same in the casing or cabinet, so that the insertion of the pockets into the cabinet is greatly facilitated and that when completely 4 assembled in the cabinet, projecting edges and corners that might interfere with the use of the device, are eliminated.

It will be understood that while I show springs ofthe typeillustrated as the means for securing compressionon the several pockets, any equivalent means may be employed for producing the'same-results, regardless of the nature of the springs or their shape, or

whether the resilient action is the result of the action of the springs orthe pocket members or both. It will further be understood that the pocket members described may be of any suitable material, although in practice I lind it Yconvenient to construct them of thin'sheetnetal; the lower extensions from alternate ones of the pocket members should preferably be sufliciently stiff. to maint-ain the corresponding lower portions of the side wail-ls' of the pockets substantially in the saine vertical planes as the upper portions of the respective side walls, as a result of which where the pocket members are relatively thin, it is pref' llO iii

e 'able to employ separate plates to constitute the lower pocket member extensions, but on the other hand where alternate ones ot the pocket members may be relatively thick andv comparatively rigid, they may be effectively extended as described so that the pocket members in this case will have integral downward extensions. It will further be understood that the compression means employed may be mounted on or incorporated in the pocket members in any desired manner and that the i'iexible pocket bottoms may be of any suitable material whether fabric or otherwise and that they may be secured to the pocket members in any convenient manner.

While l have shown my invention in the particular embodiment labove described, it will be understood that do not limitmyselt to this exact construction as l may employ equivalents known to the art at the time ot the tiling of this application without departing from the scope ot' the appended claims.

What l claim is y l. In a vertical tile, the combination of a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having` lexible bottoms and comprising meinbers suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pocket members etecting a spacing ot the lower portions o-t said pockets and permitting :tree distension and collapse of said lexible. bottoms.

V2. Ina vertical tile, the combination ot' a casing having bottom and side wa ls, pockets having flexible bot-toms and comprising members suspended in the casing trom its upper portion, compression means between said poel-iets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pocket members eectinga spacing of the lower portions oi' said pockets and *permitting free dis tension and collapse of said flexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising downward extensions trom alternate ones ot said pocket members, and spacing connections between said extensions. n

3. ln a vertical tile, the combination of a casing having bottomV and side walls, pockets having dexible bottomsand comprising members portion, compression means between said 'pockets tending to press-the pocket members Vmembers, a transverse plate having spaced apertures receiving the lower ends of said extensions, and a rod extending through the' suspended inthe casing from its upper-v lower ends of said extensions below said transverse plate.

Il. In a vertical iile, the combination of a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having flexible bottoms and comprising` members suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions ot said pocket members effecting a spacing ot the lower portions ot said pockets and permitting tree distension and collapse ot' said flexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising downward extensions 'from alternate ones of said pocket members, and a plate engaging the lower ends ot said extensions and holding them in spaced relation.

5. in a vertical tile, the combination ot a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having flexible bottoms and comprising members suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pocket-s tending to press the poclret members 'together' to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions ot said pocket members etliecting a Vspacing' of the lower portions of said pockets and permitting tree distension and collapse ot said flexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising plates secured to and extending downwardly from alternate ones of said pocket members, and spacing. connections between sai-d plates.v

6. in a vertical file, the* combination et' a' casing having bottom and side walls, poclrets having flexible bott-oms and comprising members suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the poclret mem bers together to collapse the pockets, and de-VV vices between the lower portions ofv said pocket members eiiecting a spacing 'of the lower portions of said pockets and permitting tree distension and collapse of said ilex-y ible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising plates secured to and exten-ding downwardly from alternate ones of said pocket members, a transverseplate having spaced apertures receiving the lower ends ot' said extending plates, and a rod extending through the lower ends of said extending plates below said transverse plate.

fr'. ln a vertical tile, the combination of a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having lexible'bottoms and comprising memlil() members Veffecting a spacing' of the lower por? ,Y

tions of said pockets and permitting tree distension and collapse or" said iexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising downward negatief` extensions from alternate ones'oiI said pocket l y members.

.8. In a vertical file, the combination of a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having Vflexible bottoms and comprising members suspended in the casing from its upperv port-ion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and 'devices between the lower portions of said pocket members eliecting a spacing of the lower portions of said pockets and permitting free distension an-d collapse of said flexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising downward extensions from alternate ones of said pocket members, a transverse plate having spaced apertures receiving the lower ends of said extensions, and a rod extending through the lower ends of said extensions below said transverse plate, said pocket members com- 9. In a vertical ille, the combination or" aV casing having bottom an-d side walls, pockets having flexible bottoms and comprising members suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pocket members eecting a spacing of the lower portions of said pockets and permitting free Idistension and collapse olf said flexible bottoms, said spacing devices comprising plates secured to and extending downwardly from alternate ones of said pocket members, and spacing connections between said plates, there being a plurality of pairs of said pocket members for each of said pockets arranged in rows transversely of said pockets, and said spacing connections being individual to each of said rows of pocket members.

10. In a vertical file, the combination of a casing having bottom and side walls, pockets having flexible bottoms and comprising members suspended in the casing from its upper portion, compression means between said pockets tending to press the pocket members together to collapse the pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pocket members effecting a spacing of the lower portionsof said pockets and permitting free distension and collapse of said flexible bottoms, 'said spacing devices comprising plates secured to and extending downwardly from alternate ones of said pocket members, a transverse plate having spaced apertures receiving the lower ends ot'said extending plates, and a rodextending through the lower ends of said extending plates below -said transverse plate, said pocket members comprising a plurality of-pairs for each of said pockets arranged in rows transversely of said pockets, there being one of said transverse plates forl eachv of said rows of pocket members. 1. Y

1l. In a vertical file, the combination of a plurality of iiling pockets having closed bottoms, members supporting the upper portions of said pockets, compression means between said pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pockets eli'ecting a spacing thereof and permitting free distension and collapse oi said pocket bottoms.

12. In a vertical tile, the combination of a plurality of filing pockets having closed bottoms, members supporting the upper portions of said pockets, compression means between said pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pockets effecting a spacing thereof and permitting free distension and collapse of said pocket bottoms, said spacing devices comprising a downward extension from one side of each of said pockets,

Vand spacing connections between said extensions.

13. In a vertical tile, the combination of a plurality of filing pockets having closed bottoms, members supporting the upper portions of said pockets, compression means between said pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pockets eecting a spacing thereof and permitting free distension and vcollapse of said pocket bottoms, said spacing devices comprising a downward extension from one .side oli' each of said pockets, and a spacing plate secured to said extensions. v

14. In a vertical file, the combination of a plurality of filing pockets having closed bottoms, members supporting the upper portions ot' said pockets, compression means between said pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pockets Aeffecting a spacing thereof and permitting tree distension and collapse of said pocket bottoms, said spacing devices comprising a downward extension from one side of each of said pockets, and a plate engaging the lower ends of said extensions and holding them in spaced relation.

15. In a vertical tile, the combination of a plurality of filing pockets having closed bottoms, members supporting the upper portions of said pockets, compression means between said pockets, and devices between the lower portions of said pockets eecting a spacing thereof and permitting free distension and collapse of said pocket bottoms, said spacing devices comprising a plate secured to and extending downwardly from one side of each spacing devices comprising a plate secured to ofA said pockets, and spacing connections beand extending downwardly from one side of tween said plates. each of said pockets,`a transverse plate ha'v- 16. In a vertical file, the combination of ing spaced apertures receiving the lower ends 15 5 a plurality of ling pockets having closed of said extending plates, and a rod extendbottoms, members supporting the upper ing through the lowerends of said extending portions of said pockets, compression means plates below said transverse plate. between said pockets, and devices between the In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe lower portions of said pockets effecting a my name this 21st day of SeptembenA. D. 2,0

10 spacing thereof andV permitting free disten- 1926. l Y v sion and collapse of said pocket bottoms, said CHARLES B; ULRICH. 

